NGC 5426 and NGC 5427 (ARP 271)

NGC 5426 and NGC 5427 (ARP 271) is a rarely photographed interacting galaxy pair in the constellation Virgo. Approximately 90 million light years from Earth, this galaxy pair spans 130,000 light years across.

Because these two galaxies are similar in size, it is unlikely that one will be devoured by the other. More likely these galaxies will continue to interact for tens of millions of years, creating new stars along the way.

This is the first image taken this season with our Officina Stellare 600mm telescope, the galaxy hunter.

The following image describes a possible encounter between these two galaxies: